The founding of a great humanist movement

It takes a village to raise a child

The story of community social pediatrics begins with a deep love for children. Seeing that children living in difficult conditions lack timely access to the care and services they need to ensure a healthy development, Dr. Julien decided to put his expertise in pediatrics to work directly in the community. With the support of two community health centres (CLSCs), Dr. Julien worked in four impoverished neighbourhoods, reaching out to children in their homes, alleyways, schools, playgrounds and community centres.

1991-1996 An innovative new model

Working in Gatineau, Hull and Montreal (Côte-des-Neiges and Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighbourhoods), Dr. Julien establishes the major principles of community social pediatrics, a unique new clinical model based on providing care and services to vulnerable children by working closely with different partners within the child’s community.

1997-2003 Our first two centres

Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and Côte-des-Neiges officially welcome the first two community social pediatrics centres thanks to a partnership with local schools and financial support from the community and Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon.

“ Not every child will become an adult, but every adult was once a child. ”

2005 The Foundation

Fondation du Dr Julien, then called the Fondation pour la promotion de la pédiatre sociale, is created. Its goal is to train teams, to finance the activities of the first two centres and, ultimately, to change the existing care approach aimed at impoverished populations. The two centres also gain recognition from Montreal universities, becoming a training site in pediatrics (mandatory for all students) and in family medicine (elective option).

2006 Rights of the child

Lawyer and co-founder, Mrs. Hélène (Sioui) Trudel enriches the model by integrating a legal foundation. With the support of generous donors and the guidance of Dr. Nicolas Steinmetz, she develops practices for amicable conflict resolution and the participation of children in decision-making processes concerning them.

2008 Development of a network

Inspired by Dr. Julien’s approach, new teams of volunteers mobilize to offer community social pediatrics care and services to vulnerable children in other communities. In 2015, with financial support from the Government of Québec and generous donors, the Fondation implements a process for accompanying and certifying these new centres.

2009 Garage à musique

The Foundation’s first specialized community social pediatrics centre, Garage à musique, opens its doors in the Montreal neighbourhood of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. This centre uses the powerful tool of collective music-making along with personalized school support services to promote healthy development and well-being.

The community social pediatrics model is receiving more and more attention at both the national and international levels. Our professionals are ensuring the sustainability of the practice by training professionals and hosting two research chairs that study ways to optimize practices and evaluate their clinical, economic and social impacts.

Community social pediatrics initiatives are now sprouting up across Canada, not only in large urban areas like Toronto and Vancouver, but also in smaller centres like Saskatoon and Moncton. Many other regions of the world are also showing interest in the approach, including Scotland and France.